THE HISTORY OF EPEE

The duelling sword evolved during the nineteenth century when the
small-sword had ceased to be worn. It is the same length as the foil and
sabre, but the blade is much stouter than that of the foil, is triangular in
section and the forte is fluted, i.e. grooved, to allow the blood to drain
away. As the target includes the whole body, the guard is constructed in the
characteristic cup shape to protect the hand and wrist. As the arm forms an
advanced target, the fencing measure is much longer than that at foil -
approximating in fact to the sabre measure - and the vulnerability of the
sword-arm tends to restrict the positions and parries to the outside lines.

Nevertheless, the basic epee technique is very similar to that of foil,
only modified by the tactical considerations dictated by the longer fencing
measure, the unrestricted target and the absence of conventions, i.e. right of
way.

Originally, the idea was to reproduce as closely as possible the
conditions of an actual duel and consequently the first fencer to receive a hit
was adjudged the loser. Subsequently, the number of hits was increased, first
to the best of five in 1932, finally to the best of nine in 1955, similarly to
the other weapons and accordingly somewhat reducing the realism. In pursuance
of verisimilitude, moreover, the majority of epee competitions took place in
the open air; not until 1937 was the British Championship held indoors at Salle
Bertrand.

The epee was the first weapon to be electrified, with a spring-head in
place of the point d'arret (triple barged flat head) previously used to cover
the sharp point left exposed when duelling.

The rules for epee, like those of foil and sabre, were more or less
definitively framed in Paris in 1914, by codifying the several existing sets of
laws.

-taken from the A - Z of Fencing by E.D. Morton

METHODS OF MAKING A TOUCH

The epee is a thrusting weapon only. The valid target includes the entire
fencers body.